This brief explores the importance of Asia for two key European countries: the United Kingdom (U.K.) and France. Both the U.K. and France have long-standing historical ties to the Asia-Pacific and have shown signs in recent years of charting new strategies for regional engagement independent of the EU. More interesting, perhaps, is that the two countries’ political, economic, and growing security concerns in the region put the U.K. and France in unique positions to provide a bridge for greater European engagement with Asia.